Background: Low birth weight (LBW) continues to remain a major public health problem worldwide. There are numerous factors contributing to LBW both maternal and foetal. The maternal risk factors are biologically and socially interrelated. The mortality of low birth weight can be reduced if the maternal risk factors are detected early and managed by simple techniques. This study was conducted to study the maternal risk factors associated with low birth weight. Methods: A retrospective record based case control study was conducted. Retrospective data collection was done using registers from medical record section of Obstetrics and Gynaecology department. After applying exclusion criteria and checking for completeness of records, we selected 60 cases and 124 matched controls. Data was entered in Microsoft excel and analyzed using SPSS version 16. Students ‘t’ test, chi-square test and odds ratio were used to find out the factors associated with low birth weight. Results: In the present study, 60 cases and 124 controls were studied. Mean age of mothers in the case group was 24.4±4.7 yrs. and in the control group was 24.8±4.42 yrs. Mean weight of the cases was 62.5±6.89 kg and of the controls was 65.04±7.16 kg. A total of 35% of the cases and 20% of the controls suffered from pregnancy related diseases. Conclusions: Maternal factors like Socio-economic status, weight, haemoglobin and parity were significantly associated with LBW. Maternal diseases like hypertension, diabetes can result in LBW baby.

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Background: Tuberculosis remains a worldwide public health problem despite the fact that highly effective drugs are available making TB a curable disease. DOTS chemotherapy remains central to the public health approach to tuberculosis control under RNTCP. The present study is conducted to know the clinical profile and treatment outcome of TB patients registered under RNTCP in Mukkam CHC, Calicut. The study was conducted with the following objectives: 1) to study the treatment outcome of TB patients receiving DOTS, 2) to find the occurrence of pulmonary, extra-pulmonary and MDR TB and 3) to find out factors responsible for poor treatment outcome.Methods: This record based study was conducted in Mukkam CHC. Details of patients who were enrolled under RNTCP in the year 2013 were collected from RNTCP records. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results are expressed in percentage. Statistical analysis used was Chi square test.Results: Out of 289 patients studied, 66.78% were males and 33.22% were females. 69.5% of the patients were having pulmonary TB and 30.5% extrapulmonary TB. There were two cases of MDR TB. 58% of the patients with pulmonary TB were sputum positive and 42% were sputum negative. 87.8% were given Cat I treatment and 11.7% were given Cat II treatment. Only one patient was on Non DOTS regimen. 96.6% of the patients had completed DOTS. When treatment outcome was analyzed, the patients with treatment completed was 54%, cured 35%, defaults 4%, treatment failure 2% and transfer out 2% and 3% of patients died during the course of the treatment. 7.61% of patients had diabetes mellitus and only one case was reported HIV positive. Treatment outcome was significantly associated with type of patient and pulmonary TB sputum positivity.Conclusions:The treatment success rate was 100% in 0-5 years and least in > 65years of age group. Further studies are required to find out the reasons for comparatively high proportion of sputum smear negative cases.

Background: In the past decade it has become obvious that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing very rapidly. Unless necessary and appropriate action is taken, it is predicted that there will be at least 350 million people in the world with type 2 diabetes by the year 2030. The aim of the study was to assess the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among fisherman community in Beypore area of Kozhikode.The objectives of the study were to identify the total number of participants with abnormal random blood sugar among Beypore fisherman community of Calicut; to identify risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus patients among Beypore fisherman community of Calicut. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among fisherman colony of Beypore area, Calicut. All the eligible participants according to inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. An pretested and piloted Finnish Diabetes questionnaire modified according to local settings was used to map the screened participants. As the first step, history and basic anthropometry measurements was taken. Then each participant underwent physical examination. Further random blood glucose was calculated using strip glucometric method. Once confirmed, the treatment for type 2 diabetes was started. Results: Overall prevalence was found to be 29.23%. Prevalence of T2DM was significantly associated with age i.e. as age increases there is the risk of developing T2DM and p value was found to be significant. Conclusions: Age, educational status, central obesity and addiction are major risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus.